Science and Research at the Oregon Zoo

The Need to Learn More

Our zoo has in its care some of the world's rarest species, and one of our most important functions is to assure their long term survival. As human encroachment, disease and habitat changes continue to cause the demise of wild populations, it is increasingly important that zoos contribute to the knowledge about, and reproduction of animals.

The Oregon Zoo has been a leader for many years in such scientific research studies. Zoo staffers often carry out their own work, or are part of national or international projects involving specific endangered animals that reside at their local zoo.

Current Research

The Zoo presently is engaged in many different scientific studies affecting its inhabitants. Most of them focus on determining how an animal's captive environment will lead to its optimal well-being and successful reproduction.

Black rhinos
Correlation of progesterone levels and reproductive status determined from weekly blood samples of a female black rhino. Dave Hess, Ph.D., Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Anna Michel and Michael Illig, Oregon Zoo. Studies of behavioral changes and other indicators of estrus in black rhinos. Knowing such information has allowed zoos to know the optimum time for breeding. Part of the work also involves training the rhinos to permit keepers to take blood samples from them.

Asian elephants
Elephant anti-inflammatory pharmacokinetic research. Ursula Bechert, DVM, Ph.D., College of Veterinary Medicine, J. Mark Christensen, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, and Mitch Finnegan, DVM, Oregon Zoo. Pharmacokinetic studies to determine proper dosages of ibuprofen and phenylbutazone
in Asian elephants.

Chemical communication and musth in captive male elephants. Nancy L. Scott, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Graduate Institute. An in-depth study of the physiology of musth and its effects on the behavior and chemical ecology of male elephants.

Cryopreservation of Asian elephant semen: investigation of semen quality and accessory gland secretions in semen collected by different methods. Drs. Steffen Blottner and Robert Hermes, Institute for Zoo Biology and Wildlife Research, Berlin, and Dr. Ursula Bechert, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University. Summer 1999. Seasonal differences in quantity and quality of semen; interactions between semen and cryoprotective compounds.

Polar Bears
An investigation into the spatial and temporal characteristics of stereotypic behavior in polar bears. Karen Lewis, Department of Biology, Portland State University.

Polar Bear Stereotypy, Stress & Temperament Study. David Shepherdson, Ph.D., Oregon Zoo and Norie Dimeo-Ediger. Five ways to address the underlying causes of why polar bears exhibit stereotypical behaviors in captivity and what polar bear holding institutes are doing to understand them. Full essay.

Bats
Paternity of Eidolon bats determined using microsatellite techniques. Zinck, Jan. Department of Biology, Portland State University.

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